Pats’ Bedard named East Division’s top rookie

Connor Bedard earned his second honour in as many days Tuesday.

The Regina Pats’ 15-year-old centre was named the WHL’s East Division rookie of the year, one day after being named to the division’s all-star team.

Bedard, the first WHL player ever granted exceptional status by the Canadian Hockey League, had 12 goals and 16 assists in 15 regular-season games in the East Division hub at the Brandt Centre.

He was leading the WHL in scoring when he left the Pats to join Canada’s entry at the IIHF under-18 world championship in Texas.

Bedard is the East Division’s nominee for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s top rookie. The last Pats player to win the award was Jeff Friesen in the 1992-93 season.

The Saskatoon Blades’ Nolan Maier (goaltender of the year), Saskatoon forward Kyle Crnkovic (most sportsmanlike player), Prince Albert-born Brandon Wheat Kings blueliner Braden Schneider (defenceman of the year), and Davidson-born Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Nolan Allan (scholastic player of the year) also were feted Tuesday.